Space Shuttle Endeavor, which roared off the pad early Tuesday (March 11), is carrying a Canadian-built humanoid robotic arm with unprecedented dexterity for a space robot. The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, or Dextre, was launched as part of a shuttle mission to the International Space Station. The orbitor is also carrying the Japanese Kibo laboratory module. Dextre has has an upper body that pivots at the waist and shoulders that support two identical arms, each with a hand with seven joints. NASA said Dextre will be able to assemble and repair space station equipment that previously required lengthy space walks by astronauts.
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